Freedom From Religion Foundation Halts Religious Journaling Practice in California School District

A recent intervention by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has led a California school district to halt a controversial practice involving high school athletes. At Enterprise High School in the Shasta Union High School District, a basketball coach had been requiring players to complete Christian journal assignments, with noncompliance resulting in extra conditioning drills.

The issue surfaced when a concerned parent reported that their child, along with other student-athletes, was being forced to engage in daily affirmations and prayers through a journal titled “The Empowered Christian Athlete Journal,” which prominently featured a Latin cross. The parent expressed frustration over the imposition of religious exercises at a public school and the subsequent punishment for non-participation.

FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence addressed the situation, emphasizing that no student should feel compelled to participate in religious activities under threat of punishment. She pointed out that such practices violate the First Amendment rights of students, especially in a diverse state where 42% of adults are non-Christians and 33% identify as nonreligious.

Upon receiving the complaint, the district conducted an investigation. Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Jason Rubin confirmed that the coach was instructed to discontinue the use of the journals. Furthermore, the district will provide training to staff to prevent future occurrences.

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor highlighted the misuse of authority, stating, “Coaches wield enormous influence over young athletes, and that authority cannot be used to pressure students into participating in religious exercises.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, with its extensive membership, continues to advocate for the separation of church and state, ensuring that public school environments remain free from religious coercion.

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